Means for separating mixed gases.



W. T. HOO'FNAGLE.

MEANS FOB. SEPABATING MIXED GASES.

' APPLICATION rum) nus, 1012. 1,056,026.

Paterited Mar. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET- 1.

1N VE 1V T 0R Altamej't W WWW Mg.

QM N Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. T. HOOFNAGLE.

MEANS FOR SEPARATING MIXED GASES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYB, 1912.

mu jifiiiilll- Altomeys WILLIAM r. HOOFNAGLE, E GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR SEPARATING MIXED cAsEs.

Specification of- Letters Patent.

' NAGLE, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Separating Mixed Gases, of which the following is a specification,

This invention comprises improvements in apparatus for dissociating aqueous vapor and for separating the resulting oxygen and hydrogen gases.

In my prior Patents Nos. 956,097 and 1,014,151, I have shown and described a method and apparatus for dissociating vapors, and particularly water vapor, at a pressure considerably below atmospheric pressure and in my present inventionl have provided, in ,connection with an apparatus of this kind, a novel form of separator for the constituent gases and means for returnmg to the vacuum chamber any vapor which may pass through the apparatus without having been dissociated.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus, embody: ing my invention, for dissociating water va; por and for separating the resulting gases; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the condenser and separating apparatus; Fig. 3 is a view showing the separator in a more simplified form, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through two of the concentric tubes of the separator illustrating the interior construction, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, Ania dicates a closed vessel or vacuum chamber,

adapted to contain water or aqueous liquid, this vessel being provided with a heating coil 1, below the .level of the liquid, the pill- -pose of this coil being to maintain the temperature of the water above the freezing point, preferably at a temperature of about 40 F. An exhaust pump, indicated in outline at B, has its inlet side connected to-the vacuum chamber A by a conduit 2, and when the pump is in action a hlgh vacuum is maintained 1n the chamber A which causes Water vapor to be'vdrawn from said chain-- her into the conduit. Bathe-plates 3, indicated in dotted lines, are arranged in the vacuum chamber to prevent entrained water from being carried out with the vapor. A, plurality of tubes 4, of insulating material,

whence it may such as glass, are arranged in, and form a part of, the conduit2, and the vapor, passing through the pump, flows through these tubes. At, or near, the ends of the tubes are arranged electrodes 5 and 6, the former being connected by a conductor 7 to a source C of direct electric-high tension current, and the latter being connected by a conductor. 8 through stationary contact 9 and switch arm 10 to the'other side of said source; This switch arm is moved to closed positions temporarily, at the end of the compression stroke of the pump, by a tappet 11 connected with the piston rod and the switch arm is opened automatically by a spring 12 when the tappet and piston rod descend, at the commencement of the suction stroke of the pump. Thus, before the 'vapor passes into the pump, and while the vapor is stationary in the tubes 4, an electrical discharge takes place between the electrodes in the tubes 4, which results ina decomposition of the water vapor, and the resulting oxygen-and hydrogen gases, together with any remaining undecomposed water vapor, flows into the pump from whence it is forced through a pipe 13 into a surface condenser 14. The cooling water for the condenser enters through a pipe 15 and flows out through a pipe 16 and such vapor as may enter the condenser from the compression side of the pump is condensed and drips through a pipe 17 into a tank 18, from be returned through a pipe 19 to the vacuum chamber A. As the pres- Patented Mar. 18, 1913. Application filed May 6, 1912, SerialNo. 695,490.

sure in -the chamber A is always lower than V The oxygen and hydrogen gases pass from i the condenser into. a separating apparatus, indicated at D'in Figs. 1 and 2. This sepa-- rating apparatus comprises a conduit 23 connected at one end to the condenser .14 and at its other end to a pump 0. This pipe, in the upper part of the separator, has reverse bends m an y in a horizontal plane, thus providing a considerable length of pipe in a compact space and the parallel portions of the pipe, shown-indotted lines in Fig. 2, are inclosed by casings or jackets d, d andd which are connected end to end I After passing through" v the inlet. end of a -pump 27 and from= the outlet or compresslon endof said pipe 28sextends to a branch 23 pump a of the pipe .23 whichbranchis also of zig zag form, the

parallel portions of this branch being closed in casings or jackets, one of whlch is indicated at These latter jackets are connected by a pipe 29, to the inlet end, 'ofa pump 30. and'the outlet port of said pumpis connected by apipe 31 to another branch 23 of the pipe 23, the parallel portions of .this branch being inclosed' in casings or jackets,

these pipe sections is indicated at 23; The- "casLings d and all of the portions of the, pipe 23 which are exposed to theatmost phere are madefof material which is 'im-] .YPBIVIOIIS to-the gases and for this purpose;

. it is suflicient provided with a spiral thread 23? These latter jackets are connected bya pipe 32 to the jackets d nected by a pipe 33 portions 'of the pi which are inclose jackets are-of porous material to make these parts of metal or-glazed earthenware, as maybe desired.-

-Withi n the porous portions 23 of the pipe 23 arearranged cylindrical cores, one of which isshown at 34-inFi 4:,and the intenor of the pipe, surroun mg the core is preferably formed upon theinterior of the pi will be evident: that as the mingled gases are drawnthrough the pipe 23 they will, flow in close contact with the .center of the tube-is fille the gases will also be subjected to centrifugal action by reason of the spiral way between the threads through w gases must fiow. Ashereinafter explained.

orous tube, as the by the-core, and

a a 'ch. the

a lower pressure is maintained in the jackets than in the pipe 23 and this causes the hydrogen gas to 'pass through the porous wall of the tube 23, while the oxygen re-v mains in said tube.

on the inner'face of ward projections 23- or formed, the urpose of the projections being to d1vert t the porous wall, in-

will be thrown inwardly with greater force than the lighter gas,'causing a partial meone of which is indicated at d". Q

are-all kept in action and and the latter are con-f to the pump H. The e 23,- andits branches; within the casings lore preferably a fine elay,"i through which the hydrogen gas -w1ll How much more freely than the oxygem,

In Fig. 4' theporous portion of one'ofdenser;

the hydrogen,

pe. It.

At suitable intervals,

are preferably placed e gases inwardly at inter vals in their travel whereby the heavier gas separating processes, passes into the pip chanical separation in the" tube, and leavmg the lighter gas in contact with theporous wall. sired form. a

In order to make the construction of the separator: more readily understood, haye illustrated the same in simplified form in Fig.3,- the reverse bends in the pipe 23 being omitted and a single jacket, instead 01 three jackets, being shown around each sectiontfor branch of the ipe. Referring, to

These'projections maybe of any demg -3, it willbeseen t at the pipe 23 ex? I tends v through the uppermost jacket (1,

thence in the reverse direction throughthe lowermost jacket d, and. thence to the exhaust pump 0. The jacket d is connected through pump 27 to the branch 23 of pipe 23 and the jacket d is connected'through pump 30 .to the branch 23 of the pipe 23. The-jacket d is connected by pipe 32 to. the

jacket d and'thence -by pipe 33 to the ex- Iha'ust pumpI-I.

5-111 operation, the pumps 0,11, 2 7 and so v the-mixed gases are-*drawnfinto the pipe 23 from the conpressure'. in the jackets Z-df--than'is maintained in the pipe 23- by the pump 0; hence 'in- ;passing through the first series 'ofo jackj ets; most of the hydrogen-will flow through .the porous wall of the inner pipe, while the oxygen and remaining hydrogen will onward inthe pipe 23., From the jac ets pressure in the jackets d than is maintained in the branch pipe 23 and hencethe hydro gen .yinthe pipe 23 will flow through its porous wall into the jacket, leaving behind into the uppermost seriesf'of, jackets takes place inflthe next lower series. Thisv opera-- tion is repeated in the third, series'of ack.- ets-dfl'the pump 30 exhaustingv the and any oxygen which may be ming edwith it from the jackets 03 etc and forcing them into the branch the-jackets d while the oxygen passes on to hydrogen passes through pipe 32tOthe'jackthe gas flowing tion of the apparatus,= andthe hydrogen drawn ofi ist-put through t'wo 'pth r 7 arating processes in thefjacketsd and d".

hydrogen i hat v y may be mingled with it, isvcarried into the pump 27 and'then passed into thebranchpipe v23 which is surroundedby the jackets .(Z ;fetc., but the pump 30 maintains a lower" the-oxygen which passes into the main pipe '23.:Thus a separation of the gases drawn 7 pipe 23 through the porous, {Walls oflwhich the hydi'ogen is drawn into The. oxygen. which remains after theser re 1 2331 o that h Prodmt the p gag-whet 90 The pump 27 maintains a lower composing water vapor,

I withdrawing gas from said it reaches the lowermost series of the jackets 01 is mainly oxygen with a small per-' 'of the hydrogen, through the porous walls of the plpe, in-these jackets, and hence the gases will be very completel oxygen flowing into thepump through its outlet pipe 35 to any suitable receptacle and the hy rogen flowing through the pump H to its outlet pipe 36 and thence to any suitable receptacle. ,7

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 is very desirable for causing the gases to flow in a thin stream in-intimate contact with the porous wall and for preventing the gases from flowing straight through the pipe withoutcoming in contact with the wall.

As the electric decomposing process in the tubes 4 has a tendency to heat the gases in the 'tubes 4, it is desirable to provide cooling means for chilling, ing the gases, and for this purpose, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, cold water is taken by a pipe 37 from the outlet end of the pipe 1 to a small pump 38, which forces the water through pipe 39, coils 39 on the tubs 4, and heat-absorbing coils 39". within the pipe 2, and thence to the inlet end of the heating coil 1. Thus, cold water is taken from the outlet end of the heating coil and after becoming heated in its passage around the tubes i, and through the absorber 39", is returned to the inlet end of coil 1 and serves the purpose of helping to maintain the water in the chamber at a suitable temperature. What I claim is:

1. The combination with means for deand separating means for the gases, of a condenser connected between the decomposing and separating means.

2. A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit adapted to receive the mixed gases, said conduit having one or more branches or chambers, an exhaust ump connected to said conduit, means for withdrawing gas from said main conduit through a porous wall and for returning the gas to one of said branches, and means for through a porous wall.

3. A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit for the mixed gases and Y a branch conduit connected ,to' said main conduit, said conduits having porous portions, ackets inclosing said porous portions,

a pump connected between the branch con duit and the jacket on the main conduit, and

an exhaust pump connected to the jacket on the branch conduit.

.4. A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit for the mixed gases and a separated, the O and thence and thereby fix latter branch 1 ing porous portions,

branch conduit connected to said main conduit, said conduits having porous portions, jackets inclosing said porous portions, a pump connected between the branch conduit and the jacket on the. main conduit, an exhaust pump connected to the main conduit and an exhaust pump connected to the jacket on the branchconduit. I

5. A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit for the mixed gases, a seriesof branch conduits connected to said -main conduit, said main and branch conduits having porous portions, jackets surrounding said porous portions, a pump connected between 'a first branch conduit of the series and the jacket on the main conduit, a pump connected between a second branch conduit of the series and the jacket on said first branch conduit, and an exhaust pump coniiected to the jacket on said second branch conduit.

6. A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit for the mixed gases, and a series of branch conduits connected to said main conduit, said branch and main conduits having porous portions, jackets surrounding said porous portions, a pump connected between the jackets on the main conduit and one of said branch conduits, a pump connected between the jacket on the latter branch conduit and a succeeding branch conduit, an exhaust pump connected -to the jacket on the last mentioned branch conduit, and an exhaust pump connected to the main conduit.

7. A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit having orous portions at two po' ts in its length, ranch conduits connected to the main conduit between its porous portions, said-branch conduits having porous portions, :1. series of jackets inclosing said porous portions, a pump .connecting one jacket on the main pipe with a branch pipe, a pump connecting the jacket on the latter pipe with a succeeding branch pipe, andan exhaust pump connected to the jacket on the last mentioned branch and the other jacket on the main pipe.

8.- A separator for mixed gases comprising a main conduit having porous portions at two points in its length, branch conduits connected to the main conduit between its porous portions, said branch conduits havan exhaust pump connected to said main and branch conduits, a series of jackets inclosing said porous portions, a pump connecting one jacket on the main pipe with a branch pipe, a pump connecting the jacket on the latter pipe with a succeeding branch pipe, and an exhaust pump connected to the jacket on the last mentioned branch and the other jacket on the main pipe.

9. 'In a separator for mixed gases, a conduit having a porous wall, a core within the conduit, spaced from said wall, a jacket inclosing the porous wall, and means for maintaining a lower than in the conduit.

10. In a separatorfor mixed gases, a conduit having porous Wall, a core within the conduit spaced from said wall, means on said wall for deflecting the gases, a jacket inclosing the porous wall, and means for pressure in the jacket 1 maintaining a lower pressure in the jacket than in the conduit.

' 11. In a separator for mixed gases, a conduit having a porous Wall, means within'the conduit for deflecting the gases spirally, a

jacket inclosing the porous Wall, and means. 

